Phillies Plan to Reduce J.T. Realmuto's Catching Duties
The Philadelphia Phillies have announced plans to reduce J.T. Realmuto's catching responsibilities for the upcoming 2027 season. Realmuto, who will turn 36 during Spring Training, has been a durable player, leading Major League Baseball with 613 games started as a catcher since 2022, including 122 games this year.
During a recent press conference, Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski indicated that the team aims to manage Realmuto's workload more carefully after a disappointing 2026 season. Although Realmuto is physically fit, he is open to taking more days off from catching, potentially playing more at first base.
Realmuto's performance in 2026 was below expectations, with a batting average of .205 and a wRC+ of 68, marking his career worst. Despite this, he remained a competent defender, particularly in catching baserunners. The Phillies' current backup catchers, Rafael Marchán and Garrett Stubbs, have struggled offensively, which may necessitate further roster adjustments as the team navigates its financial constraints for the upcoming season.
